On September 27, U.S. President Barack Obama met with Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss how to improve ties on a number of
issues between the countries, including how to support efforts to phase-down the
super greenhouse gases HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons). HFCs,
primarily used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and foam blowing, are
extremely harmful to the climate as they are hundreds and thousands of times
more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2).

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Certainly the United States, as the largest consumer of these
super greenhouse gases, needs to focus on reducing its use
of HFCs. However, with explosive growth in air conditioning and
refrigeration in India projected over the next few years, Indiaâ€™s HFC emissions
could also increase exponentially. Building on previous discussions and
meetings by high-ranking officials, President Obama and Prime Minister Singh
plan to convene the India-U.S. Task Force on HFCs, and "to use complementary
multilateral initiatives, such as using the expertise and institutions of the
Montreal Protocol to phase-down the production and consumption of HFCs."

India and the United States have a significant economic and
strategic partnership, and this agreement will build upon previous agreements
to expand innovative technologies to address climate change. We are pleased that
both countries recognize the opportunity to take action under the Montreal
Protocol that includes alternative technologies to HFCs.

Global support for Montreal Protocol

This historic agreement follows multiple bilateral and
multinational agreements that are building towards a global effort to
phase-down the consumption and production of HFCs. This includes the breakthrough
agreement between President Obama and President Xi of China in June 2013,
the recent G-20 communique and
the upcoming BASIC statement.